Report: Blues agree to multiyear extension with GM Doug Armstrong

The Blues have called a press conference for 5 p.m. CT Saturday for what they’re describing as a “major announcement.”  Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic and ESPN’s Kevin Weekes report that the announcement will be a multiyear contract extension for general manager Doug Armstrong.

Armstrong has been working in an NHL front office for close to three decades now after starting out with Minnesota as its assistant in 1992-93 before the franchise moved to Dallas.  He stayed with them until being let go partway through the 2007-08 season but caught on with the Blues soon after, starting as their director of player personnel in 2008-09 and being promoted to GM two years later, a role he has held ever since, making him the fifth-longest-tenured GM in the league at the moment.

Armstrong has brought in several core players to the Blues in recent years including centers Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn plus defenseman Justin Faulk through trades while inking blueliner Torey Krug and winger Brandon Saad over the last two offseasons in free agency.  The Blues have made the playoffs in all but two seasons with Armstrong at the helm with their best performance coming in 2019.

Rutherford notes that Armstrong was signed through this season with an option for the 2022-23 campaign.  It appears that option will be exercised with more years tacked on or torn up entirely as part of this new agreement.